Leopold Bros. Absinthe Verte, Colorado

Andalusian green anise gives Leopold Bros. Absinthe Verte its graceful aromatic character, bringing a fresh, almost green-apple quality to this traditional botanical spirit. Crafted in Denver, Colorado, from grape spirit and nine botanicals, it is bottled at 65% ABV and coloured naturally through a final infusion of herbs. Fennel, wormwood and delicate citrus unfold with cold-water dilution, making this a rewarding bottle for traditional absinthe service and precisely measured additions to classic cocktails.

Product Details:

• Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 65%.
• Proof: 130.
• Base Spirit: Grape distillate.
• Botanicals: Green anise, coriander, fennel seed, fennel root, orange peel, grande wormwood, petite wormwood, hyssop and lemon balm.
• Botanical Preparation: Green anise is sourced as whole seed and milled in-house.
• Maceration: Green anise, coriander, fennel seed, fennel root and orange peel steep in high-proof grape spirit for one week before distillation.
• Distillation: Botanical redistillation in copper pot stills, with the distillate collected at approximately 80% ABV before final preparation and proofing.
• Herbal Colouring: Petite wormwood, hyssop and lemon balm steep in the warmed distillate, imparting natural chlorophyll colour and additional aroma.
• Filtration: Non-chill filtered.
• Master Distiller and Co-founder: Todd Leopold.
• Co-founder: Scott Leopold.

Sensory Description:

Green anise and fennel lead the aromatics, accompanied by fresh herbal notes, gentle citrus, and a honeyed fragrance from the finishing infusion. The palate balances anise intensity with wormwood bitterness and the lighter character of lemon balm and orange peel. Adding cold water softens the alcoholic strength, creates the characteristic cloudy louche and allows the floral and citrus nuances to emerge.

Awards & Accolades:

• 2010: 88 Points, Wine Enthusiast.
• 2008: Silver Medal, International Wine & Spirit Competition.
• 2008: Bronze Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Distiller's Background:

Brothers Todd and Scott Leopold founded Leopold Bros. in 1999, combining Todd’s brewing and distilling education in Chicago and Europe with Scott’s background in environmental engineering. Their purpose-built Denver distillery opened in 2014, incorporating traditional production equipment alongside water recycling and other conservation measures. For Absinthe Verte, Todd follows the botanical distillation and herbal colouring practices of nineteenth-century European producers, selecting green anise for its lighter, more delicate aromatic profile.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve in a reservoir-style absinthe glass or small stemmed glass, slowly adding three to five parts very cold water to one part absinthe and adjusting to taste. A sugar cube dissolved through a slotted absinthe spoon is optional. For cocktails, use a small measure to rinse a Sazerac glass, add botanical depth to a Corpse Reviver No. 2, or prepare an Absinthe Frappé over crushed ice. Enjoy diluted alongside olives, fennel dishes or grilled fish with citrus, whose savoury flavours complement its herbal character.